An entire year of her life was leading to this. An entire year of planning and learning. It all led her here. Benny's World of Liquor. Who would have thought that her future would begin in this place? Shaking her head out of the messy bun it was in, she walked into the slightly cooler building. The man behind the counter nodded his head at her before continuing to read his magazine. She smiled at him before walking toward the back. Nellie was dying for a drink. The Texan heat was a completely different ballgame from Tennessee. Water or Gatorade? Deciding on both, knowing that she needed some sugar in her system, she opened the cooler door. Nell took a moment to enjoy the cold air on her heated skin.

"You know… you're letting all the cold air escape."

Her lips curled up into a wide smile, the plush redness of her lips a stark contrast to the ivory of her skin. A rush of heat spread through out her body in response to the voice. That voice. She had been waiting so long to hear him. He had existed only in her dreams for so long and now he was here. Standing right next to her. His voice was deep but there was a softness to it. Nell would compare it to a cup of black coffee topped with caramel. That voice was dangerous. He was dangerous. But not to her. Never to me. Nell kept her eyes on the beverage choices in front of her, feeling his eyes on her face. Eyes find eyes was whispered into her mind. Grabbing a water and a random bottle of Gatorade, she shut the cooler door and turned toward him. Emerald met iced sapphire and Nell had to suck in a deep breath. It felt like the air was knocked out of her. Her sense of balance was thrown off, her only anchor being his gaze locked onto hers. She did not have to crane her neck to look at him. Never had she been more thankful for her own height at 6'ft. Chiseled cheekbones led to a sharp jawline and a pair of lips that were pulled up into a smirk. Freckles dotted his cheekbones and nose, her gaze flowing over each blemish, drinking in the sight of him as though she was a woman parched. Nell watched as he came closer, could feel the heat from his suit clothed body as it approached her. She stood her ground and kept her eyes on his, the action seemed to please him by the glint in his eyes. His head tilted to the side, the action resembling something a small animal would do when curious.

"Have we met before?"

Nell snorted before she could catch herself. She threw her head back and laughed. A full bellied laugh while clutching her cool bottles to her chest. Nell brought her head back down and met his gaze again. His eyes had not left her yet. His smirk had transformed into a small smile as though her laughing fit had amused him. There was mischief in those icy eyes along with curiosity. Her lips pulled up into a soft smile as she murmured, "Only in your dreams."

Nell could see the moment it clicked in his head. He knew. The idea of it filled her heart with joy. It would have been a horrible moment for her if he had not known her at all. If only she had been seeing him everyday for years. It was only a year ago that she started to see the events that would lead her here, standing in front of him at that moment. Nellie was brought from her thoughts by an intake of breath. Her eyes darted back up to meet his, the emerald and glacier once again clashing. His nostrils flared as he took in another deep breath, his shoulders relaxing as though softened by her appearance in front of him. The look in his eyes took on a wild glint. The mischievous ice of his gaze melted. His hands rose. Nell did not flinch back. She had been waiting for this moment. For him. For so long. She was practically holding herself in place to prevent herself from launching into his arms. Warmth coated her cheeks as he cradled her head, his thumbs brushing over her cheekbones. His touch was gentle, the callouses on his palms a direct contrast to the soft skin of her face. Nell leaned her forehead against his and took in a shaky breath. Home. She was finally home. She had found him. His skin felt like fire and Nell found herself melting under the heat. She craved the burn.

"Richie…"

The hands on her face tightened and he stepped closer. Nell's throat went dry. She knew that they needed to get out of here as soon as possible. She knew what was coming. She knew the events that would come to pass if she did not get them out of this store at that very moment. Nell dropped her bottles and placed her own hands on Richie's own and removed them from her face. He pulled back from her and there was a confused glint in his eyes. It seemed like he thought that she was refusing him. That was most certainly not the case.

"A ranger is coming, Richie. You need to get Seth and wait for me by the car. Okay?"

He opened his mouth to fight her, but she cut him off with, "Please."

Richie stood there for a second, staring into her eyes as though he was looking for something. She could sense his hesitance to step away from her. Nell could understand the feeling. She felt as though he would disappear the second he was away from her gaze. Her face was flushed from the Texan heat as well as his eyes on her face. Richie must have found what he was looking for because he nodded and began to walk away. Before she could think about what she was doing, her hand flew out to grip his own. He stopped and turned back toward her; his brow furrowed as he met her gaze once again.

"Wait for me."

Richie shook his head as a small smile lifted his lips, his whole face lighting up at the small gesture. He squeezed her hand, his thumb rubbing over the back.

"Always."

He let go and turned to walk toward the front. Nell watched him go before sighing and bending down to pick up the bottles she had dropped. She failed to hear the young girl behind her until she said, "You guys make a real cute couple."

Nell turned toward the young brunette and smiled. It was odd for her to hear such a statement. She had never wanted to date growing up. The only person that she had ever wanted was Richie. He had haunted her thoughts and dreams for as long as she could remember and so it was only fitting that he would be the only person she would bind herself to. Holding the cool bottles close to her chest, she looked down toward the other girl and responded, "Thank you. We've been together for years."

The other girl opened the cooler door as she said, "I could literally feel the chemistry coming off of you two. I've never had someone look at me the way he looks at you."

Nell flushed and looked down toward the ground. It was odd to get an outsider's point of view on a moment that was so important to her. The moment she first saw him in the flesh. The first time she was able to feel him, touch him. Looking up from the dirty tile, she went to respond only to met with her greeting Nell from the foggy glass door. She was beautiful, unchanging. Nell had been a young girl the first time she had seen the goddess.

At the age of six, she had fallen off of the bike she had received from her parents for her birthday. Her parents were in the backyard when she fell, and they did not hear her cries from the driveway. While holding her skinned knee, Nell sniffled and struggled to stand. As she managed to stand on two feet, a strong breeze came and caused her to lose her balance once more. Closing her eyes to prepare herself for the fall, Nell was unprepared for a hand grabbing her own and stopping her fall. Her eyes flew open and were met with the chocolate gaze of the most beautiful woman she had ever seen on her young life. Skin like burnished gold and hair as dark as night but looked to be as soft as silk. Her blood red lips parted in a smile, showcasing a smile so white that Nell was startled for a moment.

"Elenoure Belladonna Simons. I have waiting a long time to meet you, princesa."

Her voice was like honey and Nellie felt safe in the woman's presence. Her voice was little when she muttered, "My mommy and daddy call me Nellie."

The woman chuckled and pulled her closer. Nell whimpered a little as the movement put pressure on her injured leg. The smile on the older woman's face faded as she noticed that the little girl was injured, and her face took on a concerned expression. Kneeling before Nellie, she placed her hand over the wound, ignoring Nell's little cries at the pressure. When she moved her hand away, the wound was gone but the blood and tear in her pants remained.

Her little brow furrowed in confusion.

"Ho-w how did you do that?"

The stranger shook her head, the sun's rays glinting off of the black waterfall of her hair. With a soft smile, she murmured, "You can do anything as long as you are not afraid, Elenoure."

"Not even of blood?"

Her smile got wider as she said, "Especially of blood, niña."

Nellie could hear her parents calling for her. They were supposed to be going out for dinner for her birthday. Looking back at the stranger, she could only think of one thing to say.

"Will I see you again?"

"You can count on it."

Nellie smiled widely and turned to run and meet her parents. She stopped suddenly and turned back. I forgot to ask what her name was. But when she turned, the stranger was gone, and her poor bike was still turned on its side. A slight breeze blew her copper curls around her face and a voice whispered her in her ear.

My name is Kisa.

Nellie smiled and ran to join her parents. Kisa. Her new friend.

The slamming of the cooler door drew Nellie from the memory and she was quick to say, "Thank you. It is rare people have nice things to say anymore."

The other girl smiled at her and nodded. Nell took a deep breath and began to make her way to the register. Along the way she picked up some snacks for the road. She could hear Richie and his brother bickering from the bathroom to her right. All she needed to do was keep the cashier busy and get the boys out of this building before the Ranger arrived. Laying down her purchases on the gritty counter, she flashed a smile at the cashier. His smudged name tag read the name Pete.

"You find everything okay, young lady?"

Nell heard the bickering stop and footsteps begin to walk her way. She could practically feel Richie as he neared her. One of her hands was behind her back as though she was subconsciously reaching for him. Warmth pooled down her back as Richie grazed her hand with his own as he passed by her on his way out the door. A smile found its way onto her face and she nodded as she responded to Pete, "Yes sir. Needed to pick up a few things before getting back on the road."

Pete nodded and finished ringing up her items. Handing him the cash necessary, she grabbed the bag with her snacks and drinks and began to walk toward the exit. She called over her shoulder, "Have a lovely day."

She heard Pete return the sentiment behind her as she took a step into the Texan sun. Heat was instantly absorbed into her skin. It was an insanely hot day and the air itself was dry. Throwing her bag of goodies in her car, she began to make her way to the stacked tires across the street. Even from across the street, she could hear them bickering. How have they made it all these years? Shaking her head, she sauntered behind the pile and was greeted by the sight of them arguing over the roof of their getaway car.

"You're very loud."

Richie snapped his head in her direction and his lips quirked up into a smirk. Seth was quick to pull out his pistol and aim it at her head. Six shooter… how classy. Crimson lips pulled up into a smile as she cocked her head to the side and met his eyes dead on. She did not flinch, and she did not back down. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Richie drawing closer to her.

"I am here to help, Seth."

"Oh so you know me."

"A lot of people know about los hermanos Geckos. Especially after your little break out and Abilene."

Nell approached him, Richie tailing her like a shadow. Seth clenched the gun tighter, his gun seeming so small in his white knuckled grip. She gently laid her hand on his own. Seth's eyes were confused but she knew that he realized that she was not a threat. His grip loosened and his shoulders untensed.

"I am here to help you both."

"Why?"

Nell felt a hand thread through her own that was dangling by her side. Richie stood by her side. They were standing side by side and she could see that the sight of them confused Seth. She could understand his confusion. He did not know her, and he did not understand how Richie knew her.

"I've seen what is going to happen, Seth. I know you do not believe in such things, but you must listen to me right now. Rangers are coming and I am trying to help."

Turning her head toward Richie, she wanted so badly to nuzzle into him. But she knew that she would have to wait for such things. They would have time later. She would make sure of it. Moving away from the brothers, she began to walk toward the trunk of the vehicle. She rapped her knuckles on the hot metal.

"You do not need her. Let her go."

Nellie made sure that her gaze was on Seth. She knew that Richie would be confused but he would trust her judgement. He always had. She had been in his head for years now. Nellie was quickly blocked from the Texan sun as Richie stood behind her. She turned her head and met his glacial gaze, "Set her free, Richard."

His head moved just a tad to the left and that was her only indication that he understood what she was referencing. She knew that Kisa has been visiting him as well. She knew what diosa had been whispering into his mind. But Richie was hers. Always would be hers. Before they opened the truck, she laid out the plan for them.

"I need you to go to the Dew Drop Inn. I have a room booked underneath the name Simons. Check in and wait for me okay. I am going to take care of this before it becomes a problem."

Seth still looked like he wanted to argue but she could tell her words confused him. But she also knew that Seth trusted his brother and with Richie on her side it was inevitable that Seth would follow as well. Nodding at the older Gecko brother, she turned around and nuzzled herself into Richie. Underneath the Texan sun, he was cool to the touch and chilled her heated skin. His arms were tight and heavy upon her shoulders. His head dropped to burrow into the skin between her shoulder and her neck. Her own hands found themselves delving underneath his suit jacket and clinging onto the pressed white of his shirt. Nell wanted to bask in this moment forever. But she knew they needed to get moving. Pulling away from his embrace, she took a step back and, with one last look at Seth, she was gone, walking back toward her own vehicle.

By the time the rangers pulled up for a quick stop, Nellie was holding the bank teller, Monica, in her arms on the front step of the liquor store. The ranger she already knew as Gonzalez was the first out of the vehicle and was quickly in front of the two women. After calming Monica down, she left her with Ranger Gonzalez and walked over toward his partner. The older man was leaned up against the vehicle and had just gotten off of the phone when she opened her mouth to speak, "I know this may sound insane, but I have to get going, sir. My abuela is really sick and the family is all going to see her."

Nellie knew his name was Earl. She had heard Ranger Gonzalez call his name. He stared at her for a long time. She knew he most likely thought she was lying. She did not look like the type to have an abuela with her pale skin and copper curls.

"I am adopted, sir. I was adopted when I was thirteen by a very sweet family. I may not be very close with my abuela, but family is important, and I am needed. I will tell you everything I know."

Earl nodded his head and tipped his hat to her, "And what is it that you know, miss?"

"I was putting my snacks into the car when I heard someone crying from across the road. I threw the rest of my bags into the car and ran across the street over there. I found Mrs. Monica and got her untied and over here. Before I got to her, I did see a car fly off from behind that tire pile."

"Oh really. Do tell."

"I am not too sure on the model, but it was a black vehicle with Kansas plates."

"Did you see what direction the vehicle went?"

Nellie lifted her hand and pointed right when she knew for a fact that they went left. This would hopefully lead them in the opposite direction and buy the boys their freedom.

"I would be more than happy to provide you a phone number, but I do have to be on my way now, sir."

Earl looked at her for a long minute before nodding his head. Nellie scribbled down her phone number and handed it over. She walked back toward Ranger Gonzalez and Monica. She explained the situation and wished both well. She left them with her contact information and hopped into her own vehicle. Shifting the gear into position, Nellie took off in pursuit of the brothers.

Dew Drop Inn… here I come.